It’s the same story at the end of every month. When you withdraw your morning sum of money from the ATM someday in the last week, you gasp at the balance left and realise that you may have to lick the paint off the walls as a substitute for food until it’s pay day. And it’s always the same reaction. “Where did all the money go?” You may be budgeting when it comes to commuting to work, house rent and eating out. But here’s a list of other things we bet you never thought would create a huge dent in your pocket, thus accelerating ‘broke day’.
1. Browsing shopping sites at work: It’s a good way to pass your time, but because the credit card is always handy, you end up splurging on things you didn’t even intend to buy.
2. Not claiming office bills: Most of the time, the amounts seem insignificant compared to the effort put in claiming these bills. But they all add up!
3. Running up a credit card bill beyond your monthly means: And then having to pay it the next month. Besides, the interest they charge can kill you. It’s like paying off a car loan.
4. Letting your data usage go unchecked: We spend so much time on our phones these days that the data charges are often humongous.
5. Bringing lunch to work, but ordering in dessert: This is a clear case of being penny-wise and pound-foolish. if you’re really craving something sweet, buy a ten rupee bar of chocolate.
6. Evening snacking: You have planned your breakfast, lunch and dinner. But you didn’t plan for that between meals period in the evening when you are hungry and have left office already.
7. Succumbing to the lure of discount sales: It isn’t good economy, really. But that’s the impression we get. Instead of saving, we actually end up buying more often because of discount sales.
8. Working late: It messes up your schedule, so instead of going home to a hot meal, you order takeout at work. And when you’re so tired at the end of the really long day, you skip the usual bus or train for a cab or rickshaw. That’s double expenditure.
9. Chain smoking: If you need to go out for a smoke every hour, chances are you down it with a cup of chai each time. If you calculate the cost of endless cups of chai and cigarettes every day, the figure is astronomical.
10. The air-conditioner: India has really warm weather most of the time, so we end up using the air conditioner almost all through the year. Needless to say, when the electricity bill arrives, you want to run the other way.
